A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming establishment, is an establishment where people can gamble. These places often offer table games like blackjack and roulette, as well as slot machines and video poker. Some casinos are stand-alone, while others are part of resorts or hotels. The casino industry is regulated in many countries.

Gambling has been part of human civilization for millennia, with evidence dating back to 2300 BC China, when wooden blocks were used in games of chance. Dice appeared in ancient Rome, and card games evolved in the 1400s, with baccarat appearing shortly thereafter and then what would become blackjack in the 1800s.

In modern times, casinos are increasingly using technology for surveillance and security purposes. For example, betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that interacts with systems in the tables to enable casinos to oversee bets minute by minute and to warn them of any anomaly; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover statistical deviations from expected results. Video cameras are also common in casino gambling rooms, enabling casinos to monitor guests and employees for signs of cheating or theft.

Due to the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to steal or cheat, in collusion with each other or independently. Most casinos employ one or more specialized departments to prevent such activity. These specialized departments are usually divided into a physical security force and a surveillance department.